Journal of Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology

Yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana) is an ornamental cardiotoxic plant found throughout most of the regions of the World. The plant has yellow trumpet like flowers and produces green fruits which turn black with time, and these contain two seeds each. All parts of the plant are toxic if eaten, particularly the fruit and seeds. Its toxicity is related to a variety of highly toxic cardiac glycosides i.e. Neriifolin, Thevetins and oleandrin. This case report wherein a female victim succumbed to instantaneous accidental death following unknowingly ingestion of yellow oleander fruits. Through this discussion, various parts of society will be aware and enlightened about its toxic effects 

Dactylography or fingerprinting is a time tested method of identification of an individual based on the characteristic feature of the ridges present over fingers, toes or other regions. On the other hand, DNA fingerprinting is comparatively a newer technique which is gaining lot of attention due to the accuracy of its results and smaller sample needed to fix the individual. In the world of Forensic Medicine everyone is over fascinated with DNA fingerprinting but the facts are different at the ground level. This article aims to discuss about the efficacy of dactylography which is a traditional system for identification in any criminal investigation as a more reliable and cost effective method than modern DNA fingerprinting.

The removal of dyes from textile waste water by bacterium is one of the environmental friendly method. The decolorization of azodye metanil yellow studied at various concentration by a bacterial sp. Escherichia coli-K-10 (E.coli K-10). The 0.01 mM, 0.02 mM and 0.05 mM concentration of the dyes was 100% decolorized within 40 hrs, 46 hrs and 52 hrs respectively. Decolorization of dyes was monitored by UV/VIS spectrophotometer. Initially, a highest peak of the dye solution was detected at 437nm (λmax of the metanil yellow). The peak disappears from the decolorized solution, indicating that the decolorization of the dye is due to dye degradation. This bacterial sp. has also been used for the decolorization of other azodyes, methyl orange and congo red. The 0.02 mM & 0.04 mM methyl orange became 100% decolorized during 44 hours but the congo red did not.

Sexual harassment of women and child is an unpardonable crime that fallout from the distorted mentality of vermin men. A crime of this nature becomes very tragic and complicated when a close relative or family member of the victim is involved. In many cases the event is hidden under family pressure due to fear of desecration. Once such a crime is reported, it is necessary to detect the incident by scientific method. DNA fingerprinting plays an important role in detecting a criminal's involvement in a crime. Currently, the Y STR marker kit is available which helps to detect presence of male content on the exhibits, received from the complainant. But in some circumstances in which the woman is raped by her husband's spouse, the Y STR marker kit is not sufficient to give conclusive outcome. The present study is based on a similar incident in which a married woman was raped by her brother-inlaw. The presence of male DNA was confirmed by Y STR markers kit on the source of victim. Obtained Y STR DNA profile was completely matched with the male (Y) STR DNA profile of offender’s source, but this profile was also found similar to the male (Y) STR DNA profile of the victim's husband's. When the autosomal STR DNA profile was obtained from isolated DNA, conclusive results were obtained that the male DNA found at the victim's source was of the perpetrator rather than the victim's husband. The current case study suggests that the main advantage of using Y-STR approach is the ability to detect male DNA at the source of the victim, but when the woman is married and her husband's paternal relatives are involved in incidents can share same Y Lineages, then Such cases can only be resolved by using autosomal STR markers kit.